LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL
Dundalk Carlingford/Dundalk South Area Meeting
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 5th March 2014 at 4pm in the Cooley Room, County Hall, Dundalk
In attendance: Cllrs. Martin Murnaghan (Chairperson), Martin Bellew, Jim Loughran, Declan Breathnach, Marianne Butler, Jim Ryan, Peter Savage, Eamonn O’Boyle
Officials: Ms. Catherine Duff, Senior Engineer
Mr. Peter McVeigh, Senior Exec Engineer
Ms Aenat NiGabhann, Executive Engineer
Mr. Barry Woods, Area Engineer
Mr. Declan Conlon, Executive Planner
Mr. Paddy Donnelly, SEO/Meetings Administrator
Apologies: Mr. Frank Pentony, Director of Service
Ms. Sinead Mullen, Senior Ex. Planner
Cllr. Edel Corrigan
Cllr. Linus English
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1. Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 5th February 2014, were confirmed on the proposal of Cllr. J. Loughran and seconded by Cllr. P. Savage
2. Matters Arising
Cllr. Martin Bellew
Raised the matter of the timing of the meeting and noted at the February meeting it was agreed that the meeting commencement time would be 4.15pm. Mr. P. Donnelly confirmed that notices for the April meetings would issue with a commencement time of 4.15pm.
Cllr. Breathnach
Proposed a vote of sympathy to Mr. Henry Deery on the recent death of his wife, this was confirmed by all.
3. Roads
Mr B. Woods circulated the Draft Proposed Roadworks Programme for the Dundalk Carlingford/Dundalk South Area in the coming year. Mr B. Woods and Ms A. NiGabhann addressed the Members queries in relation to same. Ms Catherine Duff, Senior Engineer confirmed that there was a significant reduction in funding available for the Roadwork’s Programme in the coming year and that work had been prioritised in this year’s Roadwork Programme in accordance with the three year programme that had been agreed by Members.
In regard to other Road matters Cllr. Savage raised the matter of a rut on the Bellurgan Straight and Cllr. Murnaghan welcomed the works at Whitestown and looked forward to works commencing at Balagan as soon as possible.
On the proposal of the Chair the Members agreed to support the Draft Roadwork’s Programme when it would come before Council at the meeting on the 24th March.
4. Planning
Mr. Declan Conlon, Executive Planner advised the Members of a number of applications where a refusal was been recommended.
Planning ref: / Applicant / Address / Type of application & Description / Reason for refusal recommendation(inc. policy ref. if appropriate)
13/538 / Ross O’Reilly / South Commons Carlingford / Permission for one dwelling house, new waste water disposal system and all associated site works / The site of the proposed development is located within Control Zone 1 as designated in the Louth County Development Plan 2009 – 2015 – Applicant has submitted Insufficient documentary evidence to demonstrate compliance with the qualifying criteria for residential development within this zone. As such, the proposed development would materially contravene Policy RD 32 and Policy SS 20 of the Louth County Development Plan 2009 – 2015, and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
The site is located within Development Control Zone 1 within a sensitive, upland location. The house design is considered inappropriate at this sensitive location and insufficient details have been submitted to establish whether a house is appropriate for this sensitive upland location. Therefore, to permit the proposed development would be contrary to Policy SS 49 of the Louth County Development Plan 2009 – 2015, injurious to the visual amenity of the area and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area
13/510 / Michael Murtagh / Annaghvacky Hackballscross, Co. Louth / Retention of single storey office with storage space and all associated site works / The subject site is located within Development Zone 5 of the Louth County Development Plan 2009-2015 (as amended). It is the policy of the Planning Authority to restrict development in zone 5 to certain resource and location specific development of significant regional or national importance and critical infrastructure projects and that conventional commercial development is not appropriate within this zone. The proposed development does not comply with this policy and accordingly to permit the proposal would materially contravene the provisions of the Louth County Development Plan 2009-2015 (as amended), establish an undesirable precedent and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
It is considered that the stand alone proposal for a temporary like structure on such a confined site would be injurious to the visual amenity of the area and the residential amenity of adjacent properties given its proximity to dwelling houses. In addition, based on the lack of details submitted with regard to services, car parking and vehicles associated with the development, it is considered that to permit the development would set an undesired precedent for future developments of this nature and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area
13/495 / Kate Flood / Ballymakellet, Ravensdale, Co. Louth / Retention and Completion of alterations and extension of existing dwelling house and full permission for new waste water treatment system and percolation areas / The site is located in Development Control Zone 2 where it is a strategic objective of the 2009-2015 Development Plan “to protect the scenic quality of the landscape and facilitate development required to sustain the existing rural
community”. Policy SS 35 of the development plan also seeks “to ensure that the design of the proposed refurbishment does not erode the siting and setting and character of the existing building”. The proposed alteration and extension works namely the roof profile, porch and dormer windows are considered incongruous with the existing dwelling on site and contrary to policy SS 35 of the Development Plan. Therefore to permit the said development would be injurious to the visual amenity of this highly scenic area and create a very undesired precedent for future developments of this nature and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
There was a short discussion in relation to the County Development Plan. Cllr. Savage and Cllr. Breathnach indicating that there were a number of issues that needed to be addressed in the new plan to remove anomalies that were causing some difficulty for applicants in securing planning applications.
Mr Conlon also raised with the Members the matter of a Part 8 procedure in relation to the Bellurgan Embankment. Mr Frank Magee, Senior Executive Engineer and Mr Conlon answered the Members queries in relation to same. In regard to protection works necessary, to prevent erosion from the sea, Ms. Catherine Duff confirmed a meeting sought with the Parks and Wildlife Service was soon to be actioned and the Director of Services had progressed this matter. The matter will be reported on following the meeting and Members will be advised of the Parks and Wildlife Service view in relation to such works.
5. Any Other Business
Section 183 Notice in respect of disposal of lands at Tateetra
Mr. Frank Magee presented a Section 183 Notice in respect of disposal of lands at Tateetra, the matter will come before the Council at the March meeting. Mr. Magee addressed the Members queries in relation to same, which was the disposal of lands following the realignment of the N53 route.
Irish Water
Mr. P. Donnelly advised the Members that with effect from the 7th April all calls relating to burst mains and water quality will have to be directed to the Irish Water call centre and not to Louth County Council, the Council would not be in a position to action or to record any issues in relation to water and these will now all be managed through the Irish Water call centre
There was no other business and the meeting concluded.
Confirmed at meeting held on: ______
Chairman: ______
Meetings Administrator: ______